Lamp-socket fixture.



F. A. LAVERCOMBE.

LAMP SOCKET FIXTURE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 4. I9I5.v

Patented oct. 17,1916.

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FREDERICK A. LAVERCOMBE, 0F NEWPORT, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR T0 E. FREEMA-N ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF TRENTON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

LAMP-SOCKET FIXTURE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application mea march 4, 1915. serial Eb. 12,040.

To all lwhom t may concern Be it lmown that I, FREDERICK A. LAVER- COMBE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newport, in the county of Campbell and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inLamp- Socket Fixtures, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the general subject of electrical lamp sockets and has special reference to novel fastening means for which is entirely concealed within the capv thereof, and which rigidly and tightly holds and secures the entire socket in place on' the fixture. That is to say,'the present construction has especially in View interior fastening means for positively locking the socket cap to the end of the fixture pipe in such a manner that it is effectively prevented from turning, thereby overcoming one of the objections to the present methods -of fastening. Frequently, present fittings of this nature loosen and turn with the screwing in and out of the lamp into the socket, not only rupturing the terminal connections within the socket, and rendering the same liable to dangerous contact with exposed current carrying wires, but also injuring the entire fixture.

With the above and other objects in. view which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention isbetter understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.l

Though susceptible to structural modification, a preferred and practical embodiment y of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the comment toA the xture, as well`as` faciliplete fastening device showing the various elements thereof separated. Fig.2 is a vertical cross section showing the application of the invention. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. l showing a modified form of the invention.v Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, llirut ilustrating the modification shown in l Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the 4'several iigures of the drawings. 4

For purposes of illustration, there is shown in the drawings a standard design of socket cap to which is fitted in any suitable manner the usual socket shell carrying the usual socket interior.` In carrying forward the presenty invention a44 bushing member 2 is-suitably fitted -to the cap and carried by the same, and in the illustrated embodiment shown in Fig. 2, a means of attachment between the cap and the bushing is shown to 'consist of providing the bushing member with an annular groove 3 into which is spun or otherwise secured the edge portion 4 of the cap at its crown. Still referringl to the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the bushing member 2 is illustrated as being'attached to thethreaded nipple extension 5 of the usual ixturepnozzle 6 by means of forming the said bushing member with internal threads 7, thus making a separable engagement betweenthe lcap and the nozzle 6 possible by merely screwing and unscrewing the bushing member onto the nipple 5. While this construction would be ordinarily sulhcient to connect the socket with the fixture nozzle, itis apparent that the socket would not be locked to the fixture so that it would be impossible to turn the same with the screwing in and out of the lamp. Accordingly, the bushing member 2 is further provided with external threads 8 for receiving a ferrule member 9 which constitutes a portion of the locking means. In

Patented oct. 17, 1916.

many instances, it is difficult to lock the 4 socket to the fixture nozzle owing to the fact that the socket is usually screwed to fittings which are close to the wall, or otherwise inaccessible or often provided with a casing which Irenders it impossible to make any secure lock except by way of the open end portion ofthe socket cap. This invention provides for this contingency by the provision of the clamping ferrule or jam nut 9 which is internally threaded as at 10 to separably engage the threads 8 of 'the' bushing member, and provided at one end with an inwardly extending annular shoulder 11 Which leaves an openin 12 for the passage f the line wires 'to te socket terminals. The ferrule member 9 performs the function of a screw clamp, and in screwin onto the bushing member 8 clamps there etween a locking element 13 which is preferably in the form of'a ring having an upstanding cylindrical neck 14 provided at the end thereof with a plurality of nozzle engaging spurs 15 which are adapted to bite into the end of the nipple 6 when the ferrule member is screwed onto the bushing member. -That is to say, the cylindrical neck portion 14 of the locking element 13 having the engaging spurs 15 at its upper end is forced into engagement with the end .of the nipple 6 by means of the shoulder 11 of the ferrule member abutting against the body portion or ring of the locking element, thereby effecting a frictional lock between the shoulder 11 and the locking element and a spur-lock with the nipple of the nozzle.

In connection With the modification shown in Fig. 3, it may be noted that the same type of nozzle is shown, since it exemplifies the standard construction, and in connection with the character of locking means employed in this instance, it will be observed that the same general elements are used. However, in order to providea construction Which may be better adapted to certain special uses, the bushing member 16 may be provided on the top face thereof with any suitable cap engaging means such, for in stance, as the lugs 17 for engaging with the edge portion 18 of the cap 1. The interior of this bushing member is internally threaded 'as at 19 to thread onto the nipple 5 of the nozzle, and is also provided with a socket portion which is interiorly threaded as at 20. The diameter of the socket which vis threaded as at 20 'is preferably greater `the same general character as the ferrule 9,

being provided with a central opening 23 in the top or cap portion thereof to provide an interior clamping jshoulder 24, and adapted to force a locking element 25 onto the end of the nipple extension 5. The locking element in the modification has africtional engagement both with the end of the nipple extension 5 and the ferrule member. That is to say, the modified locking element 25 is provided with a substantially conical interior portion 2G whose perimeter is larger than the peripheral edge of the nipple end, and is also provided with a hollow neck por- 4tion 27 which fits into the opening 23 of the the end of the nipple by the shoulder 23v engaging With the flat portion of the locking element adjacent the hollow neck 27.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that in each instance the locking of the socket to the fixture is accomplished by locking the bushing carriedby the cap of the'socket either frictionally or positively by penetrating engagement With the end of a fixture nozzle by means of a locking ring which is held in position and clamped to the bushing by a separable ferrule member, thereby providing means for effectually locking the socket to theJixture which may be conveniently manipulated from Within of the socket cap.

Without further details it is believed that the many features and advantages of the invention will be obvious. However, it will of course be understood that various minor changes in the form, proportion and design may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or scape of the appended claims.

1 claim:

1. A lamp socket fixture including, in combination with a fixture nozzle, a socket cap, a cap carrying member in threaded engagement with said fixture nozzle, a mov able locking element, and a jam nut member in threaded engagement with the cap carrying member and adapted to jam the locking element against the nozzle.

2. A lamp socket fixture including, in combination with a fixture nozzle and a socket cap, a bushing' member carrying said cap and in threaded engagement with said fixture nozzle, a jam nut member in threaded engagement with said bushing, and a sepa rate locking ring adapted to be jammed by said nut member into rigid engagement with the fixture nozzle.

3. Alamp socket fixture including, in combination with al fixture nozzle'and a socket cap, a bushing member carrying said cap and having a central threaded opening for detachably receiving said fixture nozzle, and a locking ring having a portion disposed within the central opening of the bushing member, and a jam nut member in threaded engagement with said bushing and having an annular shoulder engaging said locking ring for jamming the same into rigid engagement with the end of the fixture nozzle.

4. A lamp socket fixture including, in combination with a fixture nozzle and socket cap, a bushing member provided with internal threads for separably engaging said fixture nozzle and also having;v external In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my threagls, hani internllyld threaded lfeliiule signature in the presence of two Witnesses. mem er avlng a s ou er, an a oc ng ring engaged by the shoulder of said ferrule, FREDERICK A' LAVERCOMBE and also having a cylindrical neck portion lVitnesses:

telescoping;r with said bushing and provided ELSIE C. SMALL,

with nozzle engaging means. EMoRY L. Gnomi'. 

